The southern Amazon red squirrel (Sciurus spadiceus), is a squirrelspecies from South America where it inhabits forests in much of north-western South America east of the Andes. Three subspecies are currently recognised. It is a dark red colour, or a dark brown grizzled with ochre, has whitish underparts and grows to a total length of 48 to 63 cm (19 to 25 in), including a very long tail. It spends much of its time on the ground in the undergrowth and feeds largely on nuts. Little is known of its breeding habits, but it is a sociable species, several individuals often feeding together in one tree. This squirrel faces no particular threats, has a wide range and is relatively common, and the International Union for Conservation of Nature lists it as a "least-concern species".
One of the largest species of squirrel in its range, S. spadiceus ranges from 48 to 63 cm (19 to 25 in) in total length, including a very long, 24 to 34 cm (9.4 to 13.4 in), tail. Males and females are similarly sized, and weigh between 570 and 660 g (20 and 23 oz). The fur is typically reddish-brown over most of the body, grizzled with paler yellow, but can be dark brown to near-black, especially in the S. s. tricolor subspecies. The underparts are white to pale ochre in colour, and separated from the remainder of the body by a narrow band of dark fur. The cheeks and head range from yellow to reddish-orange, and the tail fades from dark brown at the base to orange along most of its length.[2]
The southern Amazon species differs from the otherwise very similar northern Amazon red squirrel in having a longer and narrower head, and orange fur behind its ears and on the tops of its feet. Females have eight teats.[2]
Distribution and habitatedit
The southern Amazon red squirrel inhabits north-western South America east of the Andes. It is found from southern Colombia and western Ecuador, through eastern Peru, northern Bolivia, and Brazil south of the Amazon River.[1] Most inhabit lowland rain forests, although in the western parts of their range some live in forested highlands in the foothills of the Andes.[3]
Three subspecies are currently recognised, although the precise geographic boundaries between their ranges are not yet clear:[4]
Sciurus spadiceus spadiceus - mostly in Brazil
Sciurus spadiceus steinbachi - mostly in Bolivia
Sciurus spadiceus tricolor - mostly in Peru
Biology and behaviouredit
Southern Amazon red squirrels spend much of their life on the ground, or among heavy undergrowth, but can readily climb trees and retreat to the forest canopy during the heavy floods of the wet season. They are common animals within their range, with population densities of 3.8 to 6.6 per square kilometre (9.8 to 17.1/sq mi) having been reported; individual home ranges vary from 25 to 50 hectares (62 to 124 acres). They are diurnal herbivores, feeding primarily on large, hard-shelled nuts, such as those of murumuru, Attalea, and Dipteryx.[2][5] Known predators include ocelots and jaguars.[6]
The squirrels are non-territorial, with several individuals often feeding from the same tree. They cache nuts on the ground, and generally descend to ground level when alarmed, rather than jumping between branches.[2] They have been reported to make alarm calls that sound like a sneeze followed by a chattering noise.[7] Although most details of their reproduction are unclear, females are said to give birth to litters of two to four pups.[8]
Referencesedit
^ abCassola, F. (2017) [errata version of 2016 assessment]. "Sciurus spadiceus". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. 2016: e.T20022A115155594. doi:10.2305/IUCN.UK.2016-3.RLTS.T20022A22246240.en. Retrieved 8 April 2021.
^John F. Eisenberg and Kent H. Redford, 2000. Mammals of the Neotropics. Vol 3: Ecuador, Bolivia and Brazil
^Thorington, R.W. Jr; Hoffman, R.S. (2005). "Sciurus spadiceus". In Wilson, D.E.; Reeder, D.M (eds.). Mammal Species of the World: A Taxonomic and Geographic Reference (3rd ed.). Johns Hopkins University Press. pp. 754–818. ISBN978-0-8018-8221-0. OCLC 62265494.
^Cintra, R. & Horna, V. (1997). "Seed and seedling survival of the palm Astrocaryum murumuru and the legume tree Dipteryx micrantha in gaps in Amazonian forest". Journal of Tropical Ecology. 13 (1): 257–277. doi:10.1017/S0266467400010440. S2CID 84815578.
^Emmons, L.H. (1987). "Comparative feeding ecology of felids in a Neotropical rainforest". Behavioral Ecology and Sociobiology. 20 (4): 271–283. doi:10.1007/BF00292180. S2CID 24990860.
^Eason, P. (2010). "Alarm signaling in a facultatively social mammal, the southern Amazon red squirrel Sciurus spadiceus". Mammalia. 74 (3): 343–345. doi:10.1515/mamm.2010.038. S2CID 85020661.
^Anderson, S. (1997). "Mammals of Bolivia: taxonomy and distribution". Bulletin of the American Museum of Natural History. 231: 1–652. hdl:2246/1620.
November 12, 2023
southern, amazon, squirrel, southern, amazon, squirrel, sciurus, spadiceus, squirrel, species, from, south, america, where, inhabits, forests, much, north, western, south, america, east, andes, three, subspecies, currently, recognised, dark, colour, dark, brow. The southern Amazon red squirrel Sciurus spadiceus is a squirrel species from South America where it inhabits forests in much of north western South America east of the Andes Three subspecies are currently recognised It is a dark red colour or a dark brown grizzled with ochre has whitish underparts and grows to a total length of 48 to 63 cm 19 to 25 in including a very long tail It spends much of its time on the ground in the undergrowth and feeds largely on nuts Little is known of its breeding habits but it is a sociable species several individuals often feeding together in one tree This squirrel faces no particular threats has a wide range and is relatively common and the International Union for Conservation of Nature lists it as a least concern species Southern Amazon red squirrelConservation statusLeast Concern IUCN 3 1 1 Scientific classificationDomain EukaryotaKingdom AnimaliaPhylum ChordataClass MammaliaOrder RodentiaFamily SciuridaeGenus SciurusSpecies S spadiceusBinomial nameSciurus spadiceusOlfers 1818SubspeciesSciurus spadiceus spadiceus Sciurus spadiceus steinbachi Sciurus spadiceus tricolor Contents 1 Description 2 Distribution and habitat 3 Biology and behaviour 4 ReferencesDescription editOne of the largest species of squirrel in its range S spadiceus ranges from 48 to 63 cm 19 to 25 in in total length including a very long 24 to 34 cm 9 4 to 13 4 in tail Males and females are similarly sized and weigh between 570 and 660 g 20 and 23 oz The fur is typically reddish brown over most of the body grizzled with paler yellow but can be dark brown to near black especially in the S s tricolor subspecies The underparts are white to pale ochre in colour and separated from the remainder of the body by a narrow band of dark fur The cheeks and head range from yellow to reddish orange and the tail fades from dark brown at the base to orange along most of its length 2 The southern Amazon species differs from the otherwise very similar northern Amazon red squirrel in having a longer and narrower head and orange fur behind its ears and on the tops of its feet Females have eight teats 2 Distribution and habitat editThe southern Amazon red squirrel inhabits north western South America east of the Andes It is found from southern Colombia and western Ecuador through eastern Peru northern Bolivia and Brazil south of the Amazon River 1 Most inhabit lowland rain forests although in the western parts of their range some live in forested highlands in the foothills of the Andes 3 Three subspecies are currently recognised although the precise geographic boundaries between their ranges are not yet clear 4 Sciurus spadiceus spadiceus mostly in Brazil Sciurus spadiceus steinbachi mostly in Bolivia Sciurus spadiceus tricolor mostly in PeruBiology and behaviour editSouthern Amazon red squirrels spend much of their life on the ground or among heavy undergrowth but can readily climb trees and retreat to the forest canopy during the heavy floods of the wet season They are common animals within their range with population densities of 3 8 to 6 6 per square kilometre 9 8 to 17 1 sq mi having been reported individual home ranges vary from 25 to 50 hectares 62 to 124 acres They are diurnal herbivores feeding primarily on large hard shelled nuts such as those of murumuru Attalea and Dipteryx 2 5 Known predators include ocelots and jaguars 6 The squirrels are non territorial with several individuals often feeding from the same tree They cache nuts on the ground and generally descend to ground level when alarmed rather than jumping between branches 2 They have been reported to make alarm calls that sound like a sneeze followed by a chattering noise 7 Although most details of their reproduction are unclear females are said to give birth to litters of two to four pups 8 References edit a b Cassola F 2017 errata version of 2016 assessment Sciurus spadiceus IUCN Red List of Threatened Species 2016 e T20022A115155594 doi 10 2305 IUCN UK 2016 3 RLTS T20022A22246240 en Retrieved 8 April 2021 a b c d Gwinn R N et al 2012 Sciurus spadiceus Rodentia Sciuridae Mammalian Species 44 1 59 63 doi 10 1644 896 1 John F Eisenberg and Kent H Redford 2000 Mammals of the Neotropics Vol 3 Ecuador Bolivia and Brazil Thorington R W Jr Hoffman R S 2005 Sciurus spadiceus In Wilson D E Reeder D M eds Mammal Species of the World A Taxonomic and Geographic Reference 3rd ed Johns Hopkins University Press pp 754 818 ISBN 978 0 8018 8221 0 OCLC 62265494 Cintra R amp Horna V 1997 Seed and seedling survival of the palm Astrocaryum murumuru and the legume tree Dipteryx micrantha in gaps in Amazonian forest Journal of Tropical Ecology 13 1 257 277 doi 10 1017 S0266467400010440 S2CID 84815578 Emmons L H 1987 Comparative feeding ecology of felids in a Neotropical rainforest Behavioral Ecology and Sociobiology 20 4 271 283 doi 10 1007 BF00292180 S2CID 24990860 Eason P 2010 Alarm signaling in a facultatively social mammal the southern Amazon red squirrel Sciurus spadiceus Mammalia 74 3 343 345 doi 10 1515 mamm 2010 038 S2CID 85020661 Anderson S 1997 Mammals of Bolivia taxonomy and distribution Bulletin of the American Museum of Natural History 231 1 652 hdl 2246 1620 Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Southern Amazon red squirrel amp oldid 1121366964, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
